Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

[Extract.]

Mr. Tuckerman to Mr. Seward.

No. 13.]

Legation of the United States, Athens, August 20, 1868.

Sir: * * * * *

The joint resolution of Congress in behalf of Cretan autonomy, which passed July 20, two days after your acknowledgment of my dispatch containing a suggestion of a similar character, has been received here with unqualified satisfaction, and great interest is expressed in the forthcoming letter of the Secretary of State to our minister at Constantinople, in pursuance of said resolution. This resolution of Congress, passed by a unanimous vote, was declared by Mr. Myers, representative from Pennsylvania, “to be responsive to the wishes of the American people.” It is so regarded here, and hopes are being built upon it by the sanguine people of Greece, which I fear will not be fully realized. This expression, however, on the, part of the United States, conies at an opportune moment. The apathy of Europe, as regards the Cretan question, the inability of the Greek government and people to offer material aid to the insurgents in Candia, and the wretched physical condition of those people, have of late driven them to a condition of almost hopelessness. In their despair they cry aloud for help and look towards the United States with an earnestness which inspires sympathy in the beholder. Indeed, it is impossible to hear, as I do almost daily, the passionate appeals of the representatives of these valiant and suffering people, without emotion. The political solution of the Cretan question becomes of far less importance than the immediate question of relief to these sufferers—sufferers whose cause, even if it were a bad one, has been upheld with such confidence, patience, and heroism, as to entitle it to the earnest consideration and decisive action of the neutral powers. As a citizen and public servant of the United States, I fervently hope that the appeal of our government to the Porte in behalf of the people of Crete will result in positive reforms, which sooner or later may lead to the entire independence of the island of Candia.

Referring to the enclosures herewith, I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES. K. TUCKERMAN.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Note.

The national assembly of the Cretans and the provisional government of Crete have issued the following decrees:

Considering the continual demonstrations in the United States in behalf of our sacred struggle, and the aid of various kinds that continues to be sent from America in support of our war of independence and for the relief of the victims of Turkish ferocity, the national assembly of the Cretans decrees:

1st. The deep gratitude of the people of Crete to the people of the United States of America shall be made known to our American benefactors.

2d. The provisional government shall carry into effect the present decree.

Brysai of Amarion, Crete, August 1–13, 1868.

A PAPPAYANNAKES, President.

[Here follow the names of the members.]

The provisional government of Crete to the people of the United States of America:

The general assembly of the Cretans has charged us by its decree of the l-13th instant to communicate to you, in the name of the people of Crete, an expression of our deep gratitude for the aid of every kind sent by you in support of our sacred struggle, as well as for the relief of the victims of Turkish ferocity. We thank you also for the boundless sympathy you evince in behalf of a people fighting for the recovery of their freedom.

The philhellenism now manifested in America reminds us of what was done in your glorious country during the panhellenic war of independence which commenced in 1821; and we perceive with the greatest pleasure that the children of the American philhellenes of that period have proved worthy of their parents.

With heartfelt gratitude to the American people for their generous contributions to Crete, we feel assured that you will continue to accord your material and moral support to the most sacred and ligitimate of causes, a cause which, from its special character and the unprecedented sufferings attending it, has become worthy of the sympathies of every civilized nation.

Brysai of Amarion in Crete, August, 1868.

I. IAMLAKES, General Secretary.

[Here follow the names of the members.]